Phlox plant named ‘USPHLO322’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘USPHLO322’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; attractive purple-colored flowers with a red purple-colored star pattern at the center; freely and continuous flowering habit; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USPHLO322’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name USPHLO322.

The new Phlox is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hikone Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to create new pot-type Phlox cultivars with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Phlox originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Mar. 29, 2001 in Hikone Shiga, Japan of two unidentified selections of Phlox hybrida, not patented. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif., on May 24, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Bonsall, Calif. since May 24, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar USPHLO322 have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USPHLO322’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USPHLO322’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Attractive purple-colored flowers with a red purple-colored         star pattern at the center.     -   4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox differ from plants of the parent selections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox are more vigorous than plants of the         parent selections.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox have larger flowers than plants of         the parent selections.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox flower for a longer period of time         than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to the other selections of Phlox hybrida, not patented, known to the Inventor. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hikone Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Phlox differed from plants of ‘Texas Pink’, not patented, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Texas Pink’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox flowered for a longer period of time         than plants of ‘Texas Pink’.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox were more high-temperature tolerant         than plants of ‘Texas Pink’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actual colors of the new Phlox.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USPHLO322’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘USPHLO322’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants grown in 15-cm containers were used for the aforementioned photographs and following description. Plants were about two months from planting rooted cuttings. Plants were grown under conditions which closely approximate commercial production conditions during the summer in Bonsall, Calif. in an outdoor nursery. During the production period, day temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 18° C.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox hybrida cultivar USPHLO322. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Unidentified selection of Phlox hybrida, not             patented.         -   Male parent.—Unidentified selection of Phlox hybrida, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one to two weeks.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three to four             weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading plant             habit; broad inverted triangle; vigorous growth habit.             Freely branching with about three to four main stems per             plant each with multiple secondary lateral branches.         -   Plant height.—About 27 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 58 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 32 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: 144B.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple;             sessile. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:             Lanceolate to narrowly elliptic. Apex: Acute to acuminate.             Base: Clasping to slightly auriculate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly rough;             pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate; arcuate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper surface: 147B.             Venation, lower surface: 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single, rounded salverform flowers             arranged in terminal panicles; flowers face upright and             outward. Panicles roughly hemispherical in shape. Freely             flowering habit with about 40 to 44 flower buds and flowers             per lateral branch.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, slightly sweet.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from spring             through fall in Southern California Flowers persistent.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four to five             days on the plant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.8 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Elongated ovoid. Color: More gray than 76C.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 2.5 cm. Depth: About 1.7 cm. Throat             diameter, distal: About 2 mm. Tube diameter, proximal: About             2 mm. Tube length: About 1.2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe             length: About 1.2 cm. Lobe width: About 1.8 cm. Lobe shape:             Obovate. Lobe apex: Rounded. Lobe margin: Entire; slightly             undulate. Texture: Lobes, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; satiny. Throat: Smooth, glabrous. Tube: Pubescent.             Color: Developing petals, upper surface: 77B; towards the             base, 76B; star pattern at center, 71A. Developing petals,             lower surface: 69D. Fully expanded petals, upper surface:             77B; towards the base, 76C; star pattern at center, 74A;             venation, 77B. Fully expanded petals, lower surface: Lighter             than 69D; venation, 69D. Throat: 77B to 77C; venation, 77B.             Tube: 75C; venation, 69D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused; narrow tubular calyx. Length: About 7 mm.             Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to apicular; recurved.             Apex: Acuminate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Orientation: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Orientation: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm.             Anther color: 15B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 15B.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: Typically one. Pistil length:             About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Tri-parted. Stigma color: 12B.             Style length: About 1.5 cm. Style color: 145D. Ovary color:             145A. Fruit/seed: Fruit and seed development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have not been noted     to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerant rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from −5° C. to 38° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘USPHLO322’, as illustrated and described. 